Rotary engine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'1. L. GLOUGH.

ROTARY JENMNE.

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Miur fg/w (No Model.) 3 sheets-Sheen 2 I. L. CLOUGH.

RUTARY ENGINE.

No. 299,350. Patented May 27, 1884.

ivrrnn drains artnr lirica IRA LUGIUS GLOUGH, OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROTRY ENGHNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,350, dated May 27, 1884.

Application mea December 1, 1883. (No model.) 4

-letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to certain improvements in that class ol' rotary engines wherein a single piston revolves Within a stationary cylinder, and the supply of steam is cut off at a certain point ,in the revolution of the piston, and the latter is caused to complete its revolution by expansion and centrifugal force of balance-wheel.'

The object of these improvements is to enable the steam to maintain an almost even pressure upon the piston during its revolution, and to cut it oif at a point that shall not diminish this pressure or occasion more than one dead.77 center or point.

The object, further, of these improvements is to reduce frictionalrwear upon the valve, to increase the efficiency and durability of the engine, and at the same time reduce the number of its component parts and economize in.

the cost of their manufacture. rlhe invention therein consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings,

in which- Figure l is a horizontal section of an engine constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse central section of the cylinder and its contents; Fig. 4i, a longitudinal vertical section in part of the cylinder and its end inclosures Fig. 5, a detail view of the packing-ring which is located between the heads of the spool and cylinder 5 Fig.. 6, an end view of the spool-head; Fig. 7, a detail view of the cam and the rod upon which it has direct action.

Like letters of reference denote correspond ing parts in the several views.

A is the bottom or bed-plate which supports the entire machinery, and upon one end of 5e which is secured by any suitable means asad- C, which serves as a support for the outer end of the valve-stem E.

D represents the hollow stationary cylinder,which is mounted and secured upon the saddle B by bolts or other suitable means. This cylinder has a side extension, D', parallel with the bed-plateA, and is provided with an interior chamber, a, and an end opening, a', the former inclosing the valve E, and the latter serving to admit the stem E of said valve. At the point where the valve-stem enters the cylinder-extension is a packing box, b, screwed into a cap, b', which is secured to the cylinder-extension by means of setscrews b.

Longitudinally through the center of the cylinder proper passes a shaft, F, to which a spool, G,is keyed to revolve concurrently therewith. Between the heads of this spool fits the valve E, which is provided with an end packing, constructed as hereinafter described with relation to the packing of the piston. This spool is constructed with a radial piston or wing, G', as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, said piston being perforated at its outer end, and

provided with a steam-packing, c, which isoperated by the steam entering-the small port c and forcing out the packing, so that it is held in close contact with the cylinder-wall. This packing works in a small chamber, d, of the port c', and is provided with shoulders d', which limit its forward-and-backward movenient. The heads H H of this spool are of a diameter corresponding with that of the inside of the cylinder, and are beveled to adapt themselves to iit snugly within the beveled iianges'of the packing/rings H H. Within these packing rings, around the shaft and against the heads of the spool, closely fit the head-plates` I I.r To these head-plates and to the packing-rings H H are secured the heads J J of the cylinder by means of set-screws d d cl d.

Kreprcsents the steamipipe, which branches at any convenient point into the two arms K K', which pass one through each head of the cylinder and into the head-plates at the ends of the spool, thus furnishing steam to the opposite ends of the spool simultaneously. The branch pipes K K are screwed into an open ing, e, in the head-plates I I, and this open- .the spool.

ing registers at each revolution of the shaft and spool with steam-port ein the heads of In the outer face of the heads of the spool are the steam-grooves e2, which extend from the steam port e about seventwelfths of the distance (more or less, as found practical) around the heads of the spool, thus admitting steam into the cylinder during seven-twelfths of the revolution of the piston.

L is the exhaust-port, through which the steam exhausts after the piston has passed by it toward the valve E.

Upon one end of the shaft F is'mounted a cam, M, which is keyed to and Irevolves with the shaft. This cam at every revolution acts upon the end of the cam-rod N, which is supported near this end between two rollers or other suitable devices, ff, 'of an upright, O. This cam-rod extends obliquely "downward, and pivotally connects at its lower end with the short rock-arm l?, which is keyed to the rock-shaft Q, the ends of which have bearing in journal-boxes g g.

To the rock-shaft Q is keyed a long rackarm, R, which extends vertically upward,and is pivotally connected at its upper end with the valve-stem e at a ppint between its end support and the cylinder extension. At a point midway between the upper and lower connection of the rack-arm Ris secured one end of a spiral spring, S, the other end of which is secured to the saddle which supports the cylinder. y

From the foregoing description, and by reference to the accompanying drawings referred to as a part. thereof, it will be manifest that the operation of this engine is as follows: The steam passes from the boiler into the steampipe K, and is conveyed through its arms K K to the opposite ends of the cylinder, where it passes through the steam-ports and the headplates and through the steam-ports and grooves in the heads of the spool, steam being supplied simultaneously at the ends of the spool, thus affording a perfect balance. The steam being admitted throughthese ports, as afore-l said, exerts force upon the radial wing or piston of the spool and causes it to revolve. The

.. st eam also enters the small port in the inner end of the valve and forces inward the steampacking, so as to prevent the escape of steam behind the piston. The steam also operates in a similar manner upon the steam-packing in the 4end of the piston, and thus confines the presses outwardly the long rock-arm R, it bey ing attached to the valve-stem E', operates upon said stem, and draws out the valve E just in time to permit of the passage of the piston to complete its revolution. yImmediately after the piston passes the valve resumes its normal position against the spool through the medium of the spring S, 4and the inlet parts of the spool-heads again register with those in the head-plates. a

By the construction, arrangement, and operation of the parts, as above set forth, it will be apparent that frictional wear is'reduced to a minimum, an almost even pressure is constantly maintained, and but one dead center, or point occurs, and that between'the exhaust and valve, where it has but little eect.

It will also .be apparent that, instead of employing a spring as a means for restoring the valve to its normal position, other proper means could be substituted; and, further, the exhaust-pipe could bedifferently arranged in accordance with a change in the position of the cylinder-inclosure. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a rotary engine, a revolving fspool mounted in the center of a stationary cylinder, and carrying a radial wing or piston, and e two beveled heads provided each with a steam-port opening into the cylinder, and a groove extending from said port about seventwelfths of thedistance around the outer face of the head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth` v 2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a revolving spool carrying a radial wing or piston and two beveled heads, a beveled ring tting over each of said heads, and a head-plate fitting within each of said rings, and having steam-ports corresponding with those in the spool and cylinder heads, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a rotary engine, a stationary cylinder having a radial extension inclosing a horizontally-sliding valve operating in and out of the cylinder at regular intervals, and provided with ports c and chambers d, inclosing a packing, c, with shoulders d', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a rotary engine, a horizontally-sliding valve moved at regular intervals during the revolution of the piston by a cam mounted IOO IIO

on the pistonshaft,and operating a rod supported between friction-rollers and connecting with a rock-shaft carrying an arm connecting with the valve-stem, substantially asv and entering the opposite ends of said cylinf der, :and terminating in head-plates located next to the spoolheads and covering the In testimony whereof I ax my signture in grooved parts therein, substantially as and l presence of two witnesses. for the purpose set forth.

7. In the rotary engine described, the coml IRA LUCIUS GLOUGH. 5 bination of the beveled packing-rings, headplates, and cylinder-heads, held together and Witnesses: 'rendered adjustable by means 0f set-screws, L. G. HULING,'

substantially as described. ROBT. POTT. 

